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\\#102 Almost Married;
Janitor Two: Hi. Janitor Two: First off, let's do a quick plot outline. Liz has found out from Bruce that her mother and his father are "having an affair." Todd and Liz think it would be fun to live together. The Wakefield parents and the Wilkins parents go away for a week and the kids move in together with Jessica for a chaperone, and hilarity ensues. Plot established, let's discuss it. Is it a good plot? Is it treated well? Is it believable? Entertaining? Janitor One: It's entertaining. It's definitely one of the better SVH books. Janitor Two: Very entertaining. The laundromat! Hehehe! Janitor One: Hehehehe! I also like when Todd tries to make a fancy dinner for him and Liz, and Liz invites Bruce, then Jess invites Lila. Janitor Two: That was one of my favorite parts. Not only is it a good story, but the light-hearted nature of Jessica and Todd interacting really helps what could otherwise be a depressing book. Janitor One: Yes. Jess and Todd share some of their best moments in this book Janitor Two: I love it when Todd gives her the earrings. Janitor One: Yes. I completely forgot about that part until I reread it...it's been ten years since I've read the whole book, so... Janitor Two: I think it ended in a good place, too. It wasn't a cliffhanger, but there is still more that needs to be done when the book ends, so it keeps you wanting to read more. But like I said, it's not a cliffhanger that makes you want to get violet with someone. Janitor One: Yes. Very good, since it's a three-part series. Janitor Two: Another thing I liked was the parallel between Liz and Bruce, and Alice and Henry. It was interesting and it helped explain some out-of-character-ness about Alice and Henry that normally would have had me wondering. Janitor One: Yes. I liked that, too. But you would've known about Alice and Henry prior to, if you'd read The Wakefield's of Sweet Valley. Janitor Two: So we have good, other-book tie-ins. Very effective in establishing and developing complex characters Janitor One: Yes. And the characters are complex. There was also the parellel with how Ned saved Alice from drowning: Todd saved Liz. Janitor Two: True. Janitor One: I love how we're given deeper insight into Bruce's character... Janitor Two: And moving into characters... Main character in this one were: Liz, Jess, Todd, Bruce, Lila (to a point), Alice, and Hank. Janitor One: More Liz, Todd, and Bruce than anything. Janitor Two: First, let's play with Bruce. This book really advanced his character. I like the way we get to wonder if he was forcing himself to love Liz to see what was going on with his father, or if he actually was starting to like her. I think it was more forced. Janitor One: I do, too. I think he did like her, but he forced himself to think he was falling in love with her. He wanted to see what his father saw in Alice. Janitor Two: True. It sucked that he broke up with Pamela....they were cute together. Janitor One: Yeah. Janitor Two: Also, from that side, we got to see him beginning to be volnerable. That scene where he cries a little, even if it is just one tear, always makes me go, "Aww!!!!" Janitor One: I want to give him a hug. Janitor Two: Yeah. Janitor One: I bet he feels like crap at the end after he reaLizes how he doesn't really feel anything for Liz and he broke with Pamela for her. Janitor Two: Yeah. But I also think it was a hard place for him. Part of me thinks she should have been more understanding and given him space. Not permission to maul Liz: but just room so he could feel what he was feeling and figure it out. And a credit to him, Bruce broke it off with Pam before he started kissing on Liz. Janitor One: Yes. He learned his lesson with Regina. ^_- Janitor Two: Yeah. On to Liz. The twins are pretty static in that they were developed so long ago in the series that they don't develope much any more. Janitor One: Yeah, that's true. But you get more insight into Liz. Janitor Two: I do think she's funny when she's high on expresso. Janitor One: Yes. Very. What I love--absolutely love--is at the end. Janitor Two: When she starts yelling at her mom? Janitor One: She listens to her mtoher's story and thinks, "Just like mom, I fell for the old Patman charm. But when it came to the test, I also knew the real thing." And she looks at Todd. And how many times does she go on to cheat on him after this? Janitor Two: Hehehehe! This is one of the pivotal books for Liz's career as a slut. She hit the boys a little before, but here she gets her first, real taste of man in the kitchen with Bruce. Janitor Two: I mean, besides Todd, there was what? Jeffrey? Please. Janitor One: Hehhehehehe! Jeffrey was a pansy. Janitor Two: He had issues. He wore his mother's clothes when no one was home. Janitor One: His father spanked him. Janitor Two: A little too much. Janitor One: And he liked it. Janitor Two: Also a little too much Janitor One: Now to Todd. I like Todd. I like Todd in this book Janitor Two: I think we saw a lot of Todd that we don't usually see. He wasn't the glossy, golden boy of Sweet Valley. He was a fumbling, idiotic teenager in love trying to play at being a grown up. He is very real in this book. Janitor One: Yes. It makes you sympathize with him. Janitor Two: In a series where a lot of the teenagers act like they're thirty-five, they really hit Todd on as a sixteen year old. Janitor One: Yeah. I think Liz was really selfish in this book. Janitor Two: Very. Janitor One: Todd did push the living togther thing on her, but she agreed. She should have made some sort of effort to meet him halfway. Janitor Two: Yes. I mean, I can see where she might feel a little smuthered, but she should tell Todd flat out; not smirk at him when his car breaks down and he has to get a ride with Bruce. Janitor One: Yes. He really loved her. If I was Todd, I would've been back at my house by day two. Janitor Two: If not sooner. I think the dashing off to see Bruce first thing through the door would have been a major turn-off. Especially since at that time he didn't know about Liz and Bruce's little secret. I mean, what should he think? Janitor One: He's very understanding. Janitor Two: Very. And then at the end, he's the one who appologizes to her... It's men like him who end up being emotionally abused all their lives; until they're old and withered, wasting away in some second-rate nursing home, while his wife goes and spends all the retirement money on new clothes and cruises on ships with sexy cabin boys named Marco. It's a sad life he's in for. Janitor One: We can only have hope for him in SVU; which I never did read past book twenty. Janitor Two: We'll hope for him. To Jess. She stays her usual self, but with a lovable twist. Janitor One: She's a static character. She's there to poke Todd. Did I say poke? Provoke. Janitor Two: Hehe. But she does it well this time. Usually it's petty little things. In this one, she showed originality. Janitor One: Yes. One of the few books where I like her. She makes the book funny. Janitor Two: I love the frenchtoast scene. Janitor One: Where Todd burns it? Janitor Two: Yep. Janitor One: I love that, too. Janitor Two: And Alice and Henry are main characters in name only. Janitor One: Yeah Janitor Two: So we discussed plot and character. Now, our all-time favorite scene. One from each of us as a highlight. Janitor One: I think my favorite is Bruce and Liz kissing in the kitchen and Todd catching them. One of Liz's first caught-in-the-acts. Janitor Two: That was a good one. There are so many.............I think if I had to pick just one to read over and over again, it would be dinner with Lila and Bruce. The whole scene. Janitor One: I love that one. Janitor Two: And to sum it up, I give Almost Married five Todd heads. Janitor One: And I'd give it five Bruce heads. I repeat, one of the best Sweet Valley books, ever. |
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